Counsel for man acquitted of rape suggested jurors should reflect on underwear worn by the 17yo complainant. Following this wholly unacceptable comment, we are calling on our followers to post a picture of their thongs/knickers to support her with the hashtag #ThisIsNotConsentpic.twitter.com/ZkVU0GVAIN

The jury of eight men and four women heard from the defendant at trial. He reportedly testified he and the teen had been “attracted to one another” and she consented to sex.

Prosecutor Tom Creed argued a witness allegedly said the defendant had his hand on the teen’s throat.

“She is quite clear she did not consent,” Creed said in court. “She said she never had sexual intercourse before.”

On Nov. 6, the jury deliberated an hour and a half before unanimously finding O’Connell’s client not guilty.

Niall Carson - PA Images via Getty Images
People gather in Dublin for a protest in support of victims of sexual violence.

Although it’s unclear whether the jury was influenced by the display of the underwear, at issue for many is the fact that Ireland has no specific law regarding whether such evidence should be used to impugn someone’s character or virtue. As a result, jurors must weigh the value of such items as evidence.

Noeline Blackwell, Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Center, told The Independent, “These kinds of mythologies and stereotypes around rape come up again and again in court cases, because the defense to rape is that the sex was consensual.”

Politician and parliament member Ruth Coppinger told officials clothing, fake tans and contraceptives “have recently been used to discredit women who had the bravery to go to court.”

“The women of this country are getting a little weary at the routine victim-blaming going on in Irish courts, and the failure of lawmakers in this House to do anything about it,” said Coppinger, who illustrated her point by holding up a black thong.

According to The Independent, the Law Reform Commission is conducting an examination of Ireland’s legislation in the area of rape.

Niall Carson - PA Images via Getty Images
People gather in Dublin for a protest in support of victims of sexual violence.

“We decided to call this rally not just specifically about this case, but … for an end to victim blaming in court,” ROSA spokeswoman Fiona Ryan told The Independent. “The international solidarity that’s been extended to these awful cases when they’re exposed will go a long way towards pushing for genuine legal change.”

I hear cameras cut away from me when I displayed this underwear in #Dáil. In courts victims can have their underwear passed around as evidence and it's within the rules, hence need to display in Dáil. Join protests tomorrow. In Dublin it's at Spire, 1pm.#dubw#ThisIsNotConsentpic.twitter.com/DvtaJL61qR

Women Tweet Pics Of Underwear After Teen's Thong Used As Evidence She Consented To Sex

Cold Cases

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El Dorado Jane Doe

We know who killed her. But we still don&rsquo;t know her name. That is the enduring mystery that has left investigators stumped for more than two decades. Despite the passge in time, authorities beleive someone, somewhere, can still help solve the identity of the woman known as El Dorado Jane Doe.<br><br><strong>READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/eldorado-jane-doe_us_56e6d679e4b0b25c918276a3?x3l3di" target="_blank">We Know Who Killed Her. But 24 Years Later, We Still Don&rsquo;t Know Her Name</a>